National Batik Day on October 2, 2022, is commemorated by the Indonesian Muslim Entrepreneurs Association (IPEMI) by holding a batik fashion show at Yamashita Park, Yokohama.
Sari Okano, Chair of IPEMI Japan, when met by Antara in Yokohama, Sunday (2/10/2022), said that this activity was not only a gathering place for fellow members and Indonesian citizens (WNI) in Japan but also to introduce batik to the people in the Sakura Country…
“The goal is for us to introduce Indonesian culture to Japanese people and also they can know about batik,” he said.
Sari explained that batik is diverse, ranging from written batik to printed batik, and various regions in Indonesia have their own characteristics, both motifs, and colors.
“‘There are various kinds, yes, batik, so that you know about batik,” he said.
The participants wearing batik clothes and accessories lined up and walked around Yamashita Park while stylishly showing off their respective clothes.
The Indonesian cloth seemed to attract the attention of Yamashita Park visitors, including Japanese citizens who not only witnessed but even participated in the activity.
In addition to the fashion show, the activity was also filled with Sundanese dance performances performed by Lastmi AFI, a graduate of the Indosiar Fantasy Academy (AFI) talent search event.
The event also continued with singing, distributing door prizes, and giving prizes to the best batik costumes.
The commemoration of National Batik Day is the third time that IPEMI has held it after previously being held in Ginza, Tokyo, online due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Thank God we can now do this activity again, this is the first time outside Tokyo and outdoors,” he said.
By holding it in a public space, he hopes that many Japanese people will see and be interested in batik as a cultural heritage of the Indonesian nation which has been recognized by Unesco since 2009.
“Of course, besides we want to unite friends, strengthen the brotherhood of Indonesian citizens, here we also want to introduce Indonesian culture, especially to Japanese society,” he said.